Israel and Hamas swap prisoners as truce begins
In the first phase of the truce with Hamas, Israel will release 737 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of the first Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip, who were abducted on October 7, 2023, AFP reported, citing a statement from Israel's Ministry of Justice on Saturday.
The government has approved the release of 737 prisoners, the Israeli Ministry of Justice announced in a statement, providing a new list of Palestinian names who will regain their freedom. It was noted that the prisoners will be released no earlier than 4 PM local time on Sunday.
The agreement, negotiated with the involvement of Egypt, Qatar, and the USA, provides for a six-week ceasefire and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. In the first stage, Hamas is to release 33 hostages, including women, children, and men over 50 years old.
Israel is set to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. According to the Israeli side, Hamas holds a total of 94 hostages.
Zakaria Zubeidi among those released
Among the released Palestinians will be Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, responsible for numerous terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians. Zubeidi managed to escape from an Israeli prison in 2021 but was recaptured.
Tensions rise in the Middle East
The war between Israel and Hamas began after the organization's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. In the massacre, over 1,200 people were killed, and 251 were abducted to the Gaza Strip. Israel responded with a large-scale military operation.
According to Palestinian authorities, over 46,000 civilians have been killed and over 100,000 injured as a result of the Israeli operation. The Gaza Strip is in ruins, there is a humanitarian crisis, and most residents have had to leave their homes.
